Band Of The Week #277 - Nightshift
This week’s Band of the Week is Glasgow musical collective Nightshift – who have just released their third album ‘Homosapien’ via Trouble In Mind Records.
Now 5 years deep in existence, Glasgow's Nightshift continue to surf the dazzling plains of their collective reality via an almost elemental take on music and friendship. With their latest offering 'Homosapien', a noticeable alteration has taken place since the band's debut LP 'Zöe'.
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Nightshift, how are you? So your album is out now – how does it feel to have it out there?.
Chris - I’m very pleased with how it turned out and it was fun coming up with guitar parts as opposed to drum parts this time round. Also it’s nice to get a collaboration with Rob on a LP for the first time as we’ve been friends for over 30 years and have been playing music together for a lot of that time
Eo - Yeah it feels monumental, like a milestone. A standing stone of significance within our band. We’ve been through a lot in the last 18 months that it's taken to record mix master the record and some of that is distilled in the record I feel.
It is called ‘Homosapien’ – what is the meaning behind that?
Chris - I remember Eo suggested this one at practice and Doig agreeing instantaneously. I think it’s cool. It made me think of Pete Shelley’s song which I really like. It also features in the lyrics of our ‘Mellow Baby’ song, which I think came after we’d named the album and were finishing the recording sessions. Doig’s told me that was inspired by hanging out with my toddler which I thought was really sweet.
Eo - Yeah I heard it in Doig’s song, ‘Mellow Baby’. Homosapien. And I liked it like a more general holder/umbrella for being alive what it feels like to be a human. Love, birth, death and all the inbetween.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories you are willing to share with us?
Chris - The majority of the recording took place in our old studio in Bridgeton (Glasgow). It was the last project we recorded there before we had to move out due to flooding, it was the end of an era as some of us had used the space for 15 or so years. We finished recording and mixing at my basement studio. I think Doig recorded a couple of parts at home too.
A lot of the songs (Cut, Crystal Ball, Side Effects, Your Good Self..) are recorded almost entirely live with just some extra guitar and field recording overdubs. I think it’s great that Eo can record a vocal live in the room with the instruments and not feel the urge to rerecord it later, it sounds great knowing we were all in that space creating the sounds at the same time on those. This really helped capture the vibe of the new line up, knowing we can actually play as a real band after having come out of pandemic, recording things separately - that features a lot on our last two releases.
Eo - It’s nice to hear that read as a strength as sometimes I am impatient and like I can’t re-do that version. I love improve and the nature of a jam. Alot of the time the first take is what sticks with the vocals. The raw stream of consciousness of autobiographical thought.
I’m really grateful to Chris for his dedication to producing the sound and to Rob for recording perseverance. When I first moved to Glasgow 6 years ago Rob recorded one of my other bands 2ply for a split tape. Also Chris has helped me over the years capture my solo practice contained within more visual & sonic arts. These two really support the practice of capturing sound for distribution and evolution. It makes things have a trajectory and potential. This kind of dedication also fuels the band to be honest. As I’ve done other music projects which can at times lag behind on this part. It’s part of NS’s superpowers if we were a Pokémon. We all have these qualities that we bring, and that’s what makes it work.
That kind of trust that they give me also makes me feel comfortable in the band to share my more intimate insights lyrically. They are like my brothers who hold me up.
Also it's worth mentioning Doig’s impeccable ability to capture songs and structure. He has this amazing ear which I think we really vibe off bass and keys at times and vice versa. One of the reasons I agreed to do the band in the first place was because I liked his solo project Robert Sotelo. He has a kind of orchestral approach to songwriting in my opinion which I admire.
What are the key influences behind the album?
Eo - I think our own reflections to be honest. Political shifts and welfare cuts. Alongside break ups and crushes.
If the album could be a soundtrack to any film – which one and why?
Eo - I’m waiting for this film to be made. Filmmakers? Work away….
Do you have a favourite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
Chris - ‘..untangling the present’ or ‘..anarchy is not what it use to be’ without reading in to them too much those two stand out of the top of my head. I don’t really need to know what they refer to exactly. i find a lot of the words on the songs get you thinking in a good way.
Eo- It’s all equal in my eyes. Writing is a form of generation and you need the substituted content to hold up other lyrics so I see it all as material and have no favourites.
Now the album is out there – what next for you?
Eo- try to live off a creative practice….Be recognised for the art you put into the world/able to survive off that. Keep writing music, growing, collaborating, learning.
